Organizers

COMSTE - Congressional Commission on Science and Technology and Engineering

The Congressional Commission on Science and Technology and Engineering (COMSTE) was created by a joint resolution of the 13th Congress to review and asses the state of S&T and Engineering research and development systems in the country. The Commission is composed of 6 Panels for the different S&T and engineering research industries targeted for strategic economic development namely:

• Agriculture and Food
• Electronic & Semiconductors
• Energy and Environment
• Information & Communications Technology
• Health Sciences
• Science, Math and Engineering Education

COMSTE reviews and assess the state of science, technology and engineering in the Philippines, and will provide recommendations on harnessing these sectors to make the country more competitive. It will also undertake a thorough review of science education in public and private schools, particularly at the graduate level. The Commission produces a report of its findings and shall formulate short and long term policy and program recommendations to include each of the following areas: (i) Philosophy, goals and objectives of science and technology and engineering, (ii) Sectoral targets; (iii) Governance and management; (iv) Educational / manpower development programs; (v) Financing; (vi) Functional linkages among all departments and sectors concerned with science and technology and engineering R&D; and (vii) Educator’s training, benefits and retirement.

The report and the recommendation for both executive policy and legislative action will be drawn from the analysis by the Commission of the Philippine science and Technology and engineering research and development system, based on research of existing studies and other secondary sources of data, on extensive consultations with relevant stakeholders from both government and private sectors, and on interviews with key persons in the system. The COMSTE is chaired by Senator Edgardo J. Angara, known as a champion legislator education and agriculture sectors and today focuses on S&T. The Commission is Co-chaired by Rep. Emilio Joseph Abaya of the 1st District of Cavite , a product of the Philippine Science High School System and an engineer.

Visit www.comste.gov.ph for more information.